Kylian Mbappé open to World Cup final rematch with Lionel Messi as France prepare to face Senegal

Kylian Mbappé has told Le Parisien he would welcome another World Cup final against Lionel Messi's Argentina and that, if given the chance to relive moments of his career, he would "change Argentina 2022." The comments are the France forward's latest public reaction to the painful penalty-shootout loss in the 2022 final, and come as Didier Deschamps' side prepare to begin their 2026 group campaign against Senegal on June 16 (kick-off 19:00 UTC).

Why it matters

Mbappé and Messi were the headline figures in one of the most memorable World Cup finals in recent history. A repeat meeting between the two nations would be high-profile not only because of the players involved but because of the narrative stakes — Mbappé framed the 2022 defeat as a moment he would change if he could. With the 2026 tournament now under way, comments like these re-ignite discussion about potential rematches and how tournament draw scenarios could set up another France–Argentina clash.

What Mbappé said — the key lines

In the interview quoted by World Soccer Talk, Mbappé said he would choose to relive defeats because "if you relive them, maybe you can change the course of destiny." He specifically named the Argentina 2022 final and described the experience of losing on penalties as "the cruelest way to lose a World Cup final." Mbappé also reflected on the emotional aftermath, saying he was "stunned" after the match and that tears did not come straight away.

Tournament context and the bracket

World Soccer Talk notes that FIFA's bracket structure for 2026 leaves open the possibility of a rematch on the tournament's biggest stage: if both Argentina and France win their respective groups, they would be placed on opposite sides of the knockout bracket and could only meet in the final. If either side finishes a group as a runner-up, a semifinal meeting becomes possible. The bracket therefore maintains a clear path for a high-profile late-tournament showdown.

Practical timing matters too: France begin their 2026 group campaign against Senegal on June 16 (kick-off 19:00 UTC), according to the supplied match schedule. How both nations perform in group play and the subsequent knockout rounds will determine whether Mbappé and Messi can meet again on the tournament's biggest stage.

Key points

• Mbappé told Le Parisien he would "change Argentina 2022" if he could relive moments of his career (as reported by World Soccer Talk).
• He described losing the 2022 final on penalties as "the cruelest way to lose a World Cup final."
• The 2026 bracket allows a France–Argentina final if both teams win their groups; a semifinal meeting is possible if either finishes as a group runner-up.
• France begin their 2026 group campaign against Senegal on June 16, kick-off 19:00 UTC (match_data).
• World Soccer Talk's piece cites Mbappé saying many players from the 2022 final are no longer in the current France squad.

Tactical and squad implications (what we can and cannot say)

Mbappé's remarks are personal and reflective rather than tactical. They do not reveal selection decisions, formations or injury updates. The supplied source does not provide information on France's starting line-up, training status, or manager comments ahead of the Senegal match, so no conclusions about team selection or tactics can be drawn from these quotes alone.

What happens next

France's next scheduled match in the tournament is against Senegal on June 16 (kick-off 19:00 UTC). The immediate focus for Mbappé and the France squad will be progressing from their group; any potential rematch with Argentina will depend on both nations' group results and how they navigate the knockout bracket.